Fight K9 cancer

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After losing our sweet Mouta (pictured here) on August 11, 2008 to cancer, my husband and I are still missing her terribly. She was diagnosed in February 2008 with a sarcoma in her spine. She was a trooper through the pre-diagnosis stage, when we initially thought she had a herniated disc in her spine, to the end. When aggressive steroid treatment only brought her from a stage 4 (almost no hind leg movement to a low stage 2...walking with assistance) we knew it was time for further testing. We drove 90 minutes away for her to have more test...a myelogram, which in turn led to surgery and the diagnosis of cancer. It was no doubt that we would pursue further treatment for her because out of the 4 pup-a-lups (my husband's term) she was our special baby...the calm in the eye of the storm, I always said. With the 4 dogs and cat, Mouta was always laid back and just really loved life. She was the ONLY one who could be off leash in the front yard and not run off 100% of the time! She LOVED being with us too much to venture off.

I did tons of research, talked to anyone who would listen, read everything I could find about cancer in dogs. And there's really not a lot of data out there. One of the deal makers for me when the subject of radiation treatments was discussed was that every question I asked about the success, the risk, the prognosis for Mouta was answered pretty much the same.."We don't know. There's not much data out there because most people opt for euthansia with the cancer diagnosis due to the cost of treatment." I felt that if by treating Mouta there was the slightest chance that we could have her in our lives a little longer and get her healthy again, it would be worth it. We had just bought a new house...I wanted new furniture, but you know, 'things' can wait...life can't. I still don't have the furniture, but we did have Mouta for 6 more months. We celebrated her 10th birthday with a cookout and I even baked a birthday cake for the dogs (you know there are lots of recipes online for homemade dog treats..even cakes!) When she finished her radiation treatments she was acting like a puppy again, not like the 10 year old that she was by then.

So, I started this group as a memorial to our Sharmouta. Anyone who has been through this, or who is facing this is welcome!

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Oh no.......I am so sorry. I had hoped that Rusty would be one of the few that beat this awful disease. Please know we are all shedding tears with you today. Our hearts are as broken as yours. I will say a special prayer for my Bailey to guide Rusty in all the ways of the Rainbow Bridge until he is reunited with you, Jan and your Mom. It has been a long and hard fought battle for you and and your family. I am so sorry. RIP Rusty. Please keep in touch Chuck and know we will be here for you as you were here for us.

I am so sorry to hear of Rusty's passing. He had been quite the poster dog for beating all the odds and kicking cancer's ass! He was so brave, and you were such. A great dad to him--giving him every chance, every treatment. I'm glad you got 'bonus time' with Rusty. And while I know Rusty leaves a hole in your heart that will never be filled; I do hope in time that your heart may be healed enough to love another. Godspeed Rusty! You will be missed!

After a very courageous three year battle with cancer, kidney and liver issues, Rusty is in a better place tonight. Because of his unfailing determination to overcome everything that life dealt him, we had a lot more time with him than we could have possibly hoped for. Throughout all of his battles, he never lost his zest for life and was always the happiest, friendliest and most loving companion anyone could hope for.

Words cannot express the love that we have for him and now we have an empty hole in our hearts that will heal in time, but he will always be there. He provided so much joy for my mother during her final years; hopefully they will be reunited and can again enjoy each other’s company. We want to thank all of his friends and supporters, as your love provided extra incentive for him to be so brave in his battles against impossible odds.

I think that Cancer and every other disease needs to take a vacation and leave us all alone---at least through the holidays. It would be nice if they would go away for good, but barring that, holidays need to be stress free and happy.

I pray that everyone here has a healthy and happy holiday season and I am especially praying for Rusty and Daisy and all of our fur babies that are ill.

The last time I was online was about two months ago; my Mom (who was 91) had been in and out of the hospital and I was going over to see her (six hours each way). Unfortunately, she continued to have serious health issues and passed away at the end of October. The end came so quickly, which was good for her, that I was unable to make it back over when she passed. My Cousin was with her and we were talking on the phone when Mom closed her eyes and slipped away.

Rusty had a checkup two weeks ago; His diet for the past two months has been vanilla ice cream only, ½ cup four times a day, along with vitamins and meds for his stomach and appetite. His liver functions have improved over the past two months and his kidney issues have also improved since being on the ice cream diet. Dr. Macy threw up his hands and said that there was nothing from a medical standpoint that makes sense.

Rusty has such a strong determination to live, which along all of the love and attention that he receives, is keeping him alive. We have tried almost every low protein food out there and he will not eat anything else other than an occasional hard boiled egg. He is very happy and enjoys every day, but is showing more signs that the liver issue is taking its toll on him. We are taking it a day at a time and making sure that he enjoys each day, even if it crimps some of the things that we want to do. We are so close that we hope that he makes it through Christmas, but are very aware that he could drop at any moment.

He is now 34 months post amputation and is still cancer free; if not for his other complications he would have easily surpassed his original prognosis of 18 to 36 months.

Oh Kelly---of course we will continue to pray. Please keep us informed as to how she is doing. I hate this stuff! I pray and pray and pray, just as I know you all do. Everyone here is in my thoughts and prayer every day and it is so sad that it never seems to stop--the heart ache of our babies being sick. Please love on Daisy for me and know that I am thinking about you.

Coming to you all again for prayers for Daisy. I know a lot of you have your own stuff going on, but if you can, pleas keep Daisy in your prayers.

She came through her last surgery VERY well, but about a week afterwards, she started stumbling, running in to things, and having her feet slide out from underneath her, and pacing--especially at night when the rest of us were trying to sleep. We thought many things--that due to her recovery maybe the pads of her paws got soft and lost traction, thought she still may be feeling the effects of the anesthesia.

When her symptoms did not go away and her nightly pacing became worse, we thought that maybe she had a stroke of some kind--she had noticeable droopiness on the left side of her face. Well, today we had her into the Neurologist and he fears she has a mass in her Cerebellum towards the back of her brain. There's no surgical option! He can't be sure unless we do a $1,600 MRI, but even if it shows the mass--or no mass if that's the case, it doesn't change the course of treatment which is a drug therapy consisting of Prednisone to shrink the swelling around the tumor and the brain, Phenobarbital to control seizure--which to our knowledge she has not had yet--and to help with the frantic pacing, and an anti anxiety med.

The Neurologist says he had one dog with a brain mass of the same type and he started treating in 2010 and he's still alive and being managed well on the meds; so that is our prayer and hope with Daisy too, but it all depends upon how she--and the mass--reacts to the drug treatment.

Depending upon how fast growing this mass is, and if this treatment is effective, we could be looking at having to make that 'dreaded' decision much earlier than we had hoped or anticipated--especially after the success and good news of her cancerous tumor removal in Sept. :o(

I guess one small bit of good news--for my peace of mind--is that this new battle was not due to the anesthesia or anything that went wrong from the cancer surgery. I had been secretly beating myself up about putting her through the stress of surgery and having that experience--especially the having to be in the vet overnight and the anxiety that caused her--be the reason behind a stroke or a burst annuerisym (SP?). I know this is small in comparison to the horrible news we got today, but I take a little comfort in that.